"Ghost Towns of the Upper Potomac"

[Hello Kitty]

Wow Rick! Great stuff as always. I love the Lord of the Potomac shot!

But what I really want to know is.... How was the biker bar? Any good brawls?

[Rick F.]

Good stuff, man!! Yeah, Luke. That place is pretty, but it smells AWFUL!!! It's not Westvaco anymore... Can't remember the name. That place is (or was when I worked in Baltimore, assume they still are) a customer of Otis. Lots and lots of calls there.

Anyway, if you head toward Luke from Oakland, the signs warning truckers about the steep grade are amusing. Brooke was particularly concerned about the one that said something to the effect, "TRUCKERS!!! If your brakes fail, ditch truck immediately!"

When we camped out there a few weeks ago, I took some back roads that were just lovely. I wish I could remember the names of some of them... There was a dirt road that went over a mountain, maybe 5 miles long. About half way back, there's a pit toilet out in the middle of nowhere. Very weird!

Kitty,

The sign to truckers would make a fun picture. So now you have to go back and get one (or at least remember where it was, so you can tell me.)

I love these posts, Rick. Another fine job.

Maria,

Thanks! If I ever go on an extended trip, like you did, I'll have to allow roughly 5 times the number of days (to accommodate all the picture-takin', don't ya know...)

Rick, your role as master of the Potomac is not presumptuous in the least. You have earned the distinction.

--John
(Nice job. )

John,

I hadn't thought about it that way--thanks, I accept!

For good measure, the Fairfax Stone also marks the headwaters of the Potomac River, which begins from an underground spring at this spot. Here I am, acting as Richard Lord Foster, temporary master of the Potomac River.

Hey Rick - nice report!!! Glad you made it to the "right" spot - but be careful of the "Children of the Corn"!!!!

You are truly the "Master of the Potomac River" We are soooo not worthy!!!!

Tina,

You're waaayyy too kind (but don't stop!) I wondered about something like the "Children of the Corn." This was the view just beyond the little park at the Fairfax Stone--something caused all that destruction.

As always, your mix of history and personal ride fun is entertaining and riviting!

Thanks for sharing your ride, and making me jealous of the time you spend on these journeys of discovery!

I have made two pilgrimages to the Fairfax Stone:


In 2006 with Mike Baum,



And 4 years ago with some good friends. I was a bit heavier then!

Jim

Jim,

Thanks--it's definitely a fun and historically significant destination. When I looked at your first picture, I mistook it for the one that I took! (BTW, who took your beard?)

Wow Rick! Great stuff as always. I love the Lord of the Potomac shot!

But what I really want to know is.... How was the biker bar? Any good brawls?

Kitty,

Din't hear no brawls, li'l girl, but th' onliest thang louder than the pick-me-up's squealin' their-all tahrs wuz them pipes on Bubba's Goldwing chopper...

Now, if'fn you had'a bin ther', would'a bin brawls aplenty, I'm tellin' ya!


Thanks everyone--really appreciate all the positive feedback.

Rick F.

[Hello Kitty]

Funny! We went to a cubs v white sox game at Wrigley last summer. Now THERE were some brawls! Fun, fun, fun!!!

The trucker signs are coming from the opposite direction that you were heading. You were going UP the hill, the truckers would be coming down. I've been by there several times. Can prolly make a special trip at some point, but probably not THIS year as I have loads of QIT stuff that I NEED to get.

[JimVonBaden]

My beard, and 120 pounds went at nearly the same time.

So much gray, and at such a young age! It had to go!

Jim

[Bauer]

Awesome! You know there is amazing trout fishing up there!

[kneeslider]

excelent!

if the real estate market doesn't improve there will be a lot more in a few years!!!!!

[RocketMan]

Great report as always, dude! The ride up past Kempton and the Allegheny Plateau is a great place to visit, I've done fairfax stone a few times and my recent ride up to Moragantown along 50 was another great ride over it. that whole area has a ton of history just waiting to be explored.

Thanks for sharing...


RM

[BchrisL]

That, to me looks like the logging company has just harvested the pine, only the scrub hardwood has been left. That is a prime rabbit and quail hunting area!

[eap]

very very nice trip, thanx for the report and inspiration, Rick.

[Rick F.]

eap,

Thanks! It was a great trip, full of scenic places, history, lost hopes, environmental catastrophes, etc. And it was fascinating to watch the Potomac River gradually recede until it was a small stream and then merely a steady drip from a spring.

Rick F.